Pheidole dolon ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr dolon ^HNS, dagger, stiletto, referring to the propodeal spines of the minor.

diagnosis A member of the distorta ^HNS group, known only from the minor caste, closest (in the minor caste at least) to bufo ^HNS, differing in the minor by the extremely long propodeal spines, which are longer than the basal face of the propodeum anterior to them; sparser pilosity; relatively low promesonotal dorsal-oblique profde; foveolate and opaque waist; shagreened anterior half of the first gastral tergite; and distinctive color.

Measurements (mm) Holotype minor: HW 0.82, HL 0.82, SL 0.80, EL 0.16, PW 0.54.

Color Minor: body dark, almost blackish brown; appendages yellow, with central halves of the femora light brown.

Range Known from the type locality, as well as widespread records in Bolivia, Colombia, and Amazonian Brazil.

Biology Found in lowland tropical rainforest to 450 m.

Figure Holotype, minor. PERU: Cuzco Amazonico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios (Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin). Scale bar = 1 mm.